MacDonalds and MacAlisters: Clan Loyalty and Support

In 1614, the MacDonalds of Islay were holding out against the odds. The Campbell Earl of Argyll was marching on the castle of Dunnyveg, ostensibly acting on the King's behalf, but also pursuing the centuries-old enmity between the Campbells and MacDonalds. Included in the Earl's force were a large number of the Clan MacAlister under the leadership of Alexander, cousin of the Chief of the Clan. While Argyll was his legal and "feudal" superior, and had compelled Alexander's attendance, the Earl had failed to consider the MacAlister loyalty to their clan superior, the great Clan Donald. Upon reaching the site of battle, Alexander immediately took his forces over to Angus Og, leader of the MacDonalds of Islay. Despite the MacAlister support, however, Dunnyveg fell and both Angus Og and Alexander were taken to the Tolbooth prison in Edinburgh. After a trial of sorts, in which Alexander vehemently defended Angus Og's acts, they were both found guilty and hanged for resisting the Royal forces and defending the castle.

The Earl of Argyll might have expected this MacAlister reaction if he had been aware of the long history of support between the two clans. A brief account of this relationship serves as an example of the loyalty Clan Donald engendered in their cadet branches.

Alisdair Mor, progenitor of the "Clan Alisdair", was the younger son of Donald, forefather of Clan Donald, thus making the MacAlisters the senior cadet branch. Alisdair, who was killed in 1299 by Alexander MacDougall, was described as "the most distinguished of his name either in Ireland or in Scotland for his hospitality and feats of arms." His son, "Donald de Yle" was, according to tradition, chosen by his cousin Angus Og, head of Clan Donald, to command the Highlanders protecting the Bruce when he returned from Rathlin Island in 1307. This tradition is given support by the fact that "Donald de Yle" was present at the Bruce's first parliament. Whether Donald and his brothers fought alongside Angus Og at Bannockburn is debatable and will need to be the subject of further research. In any case, thus began a standard of trust and support between the two clans which continued for centuries.

Little is heard of the MacAlisters, other than their galloglass fighting in Ireland, for the next century. When they do reenter the written history, they are once again fighting for the MacDonalds, raiding Arran during the rebellion of 1450-1. The clan prospered and, by 1481, Charles MacAlister (son of the Chief) was named Steward of Kintyre, a position also held by his son into the 1500s. The Chiefs of Clan MacAlister, given the title "of Loup" for the shape of the shoreline in their traditional Kintyre lands, did not let the MacDonald forfeiture of the Lordship of the Isles, or their own official position, hinder their clan support. When the MacDonald rights in Kintyre and other lands were revoked in the 1520s, the MacAlister Chief, Alexander of Loup, joined the MacDonalds in invading Campbell lands in protest. When Alexander was put "on the horn" by the Scottish Crown, the Lord of Dunnyveg repaid the MacAlisters for their support by providing his son as security for their future behavior.

The MacDonald cause in Ireland received McAlister support as well. Fighting as galloglass warriors for The McDonnell Earl of Antrim, they were rewarded with the Castle of Kenbane. The descendants of this branch of the family still live in County Antrim. They fought strenuously for Sorley Boy MacDonnell and, in 1572, the "Lord of Loup" was killed in battle. This Owen (or John) MacAlister was described as "one amongst them more esteemed than Sorley Buy". Back in the Western Isles soon after this tragedy, the MacAlisters joined Angus MacDonald in his bitter feud with the McLeans of Duart over lands in Islay.

The closeness between the two clans was dramatically highlighted in a tragic incident in 1598. The young Chief, Godfrey MacAlister, had a dispute with Charles McAlister, who had been his guardian during his minority. One version states that Godfrey had fallen in love with a young lady of great property and that Charles had prevented their union and contrived to get her married to one of his own sons. When this dispute resulted in Charles' death, his sons fled to Askomull House, the home of Angus MacDonald, Lord of Dunnyveg. Since Angus and his son, Sir James, were then at odds, Godfrey went to Sir James for support. Together they surrounded Askomull with several hundred armed men. When Angus and the others refused to come out, the house was set on fire. While Angus received minor injuries, it seems none were killed.

With the rise of Campbell power, the MacAlisters were placed in the unenviable position of holding their land of Argyll. Being vassals of Argyll, they were thrust into close contact with the Campbells for many generations, often intermarrying (as did many MacDonalds) and occasionally collaborating in a raid on Arran. They maintained, however, their MacDonald allegiance by entering into bonds of support with the Lord of Dunnyveg and later MacDonald of Clanranald. Throughout the late 16th and 17th centuries, the MacAlisters held prominent positions in the area of Kintyre, including Constable of Tarbert Castle, Admiral of the Western Seas, Commissioners of Argyll and Justices of the Peace, etc. Yet, as shown in 1614 with their defense of Dunnyveg Castle, when such duties conflicted with their MacDonald allegiance, clan ties prevailed.

This loyalty was displayed again in the 1640s when the Clan MacAlister was one of the strongest supporters of Alasdair McColla, the great Clan Donald hero, in the wars of Montrose. Hector MacAlister, 6th of Loup, had stood security for the good behavior of Colkitto, Alasdair's father, along with Alexander MacDonald of Largie. In fact, the dashing Alasdair married the Chief of Loup's daughter, reportedly to the great dismay of many hopeful maidens of the day. When the Campbells overran Kintyre and Alasdair was forced to flee, numerous MacAlisters were hanged for their McDonald support, including Hector and two of his sons. Unfortunately, one story has it that the invasion was made possible because the MacAlisters, who were given the task of guarding the isthmus, were busy besieging Skipness Castle instead.

Once again, in 1690, the MacAlisters joined the MacDonalds in fighting for James VII, when Alexander, 8th Chief of Loup, fought under the Viscount Dundee at the Battle of Killikrankie. When the Highland Clans were summoned Alexander, described as a grim-faced man with auburn hair, brought not only his MacAlister forces, but the MacLachans from Morvern and Ardgour as well.

Little is known, however, of the MacAlister involvement in the uprisings of 1715 and 1745. A traditional story among the MacAlisters and MacDonalds relates the involvement of some MacAlisters in the battle of Culloden. It seems that these MacAlisters were forcibly recruited into a Campbell regiment fighting for King George. While they did accompany the regiment, the night before the battle they purposefully got the Campbells so inebriated (probably not a difficult task) that they were unable to fight the next day. We can assume that the MacAlisters were equally incapacitated.

While the MacAlisters were never a very large clan, numerically, they provided loyal and often distinguished support to the Clan Donald throughout the centuries. Although they often held important official positions, they seemed willing to defy the government when it threatened their clan rights and privileges. This mutual family support was the foundation of the clan system and both MacAlisters and MacDonalds should be proud of their shared history.

[citations available upon request]
[This article was written at the request of the editor of By Sea By Land, the Clan Donald National Newsletter, and appeared in that publication.]